Polk 4 Shot Headset: How's That Sound?

     The Xbox One finally has some headsets on the market. Players no longer have to rely on the basic headset that came with their Xbox One. There was one particular headset out of the mix caught my attention and that was the Polk 4 Shot. I'll admit, I've always purchased Turtlebeach headsets. Not out of obligation or loyalty, but because I've never had issues with their headsets and thought they sounded good. But with a new console I had the urge in me to branch out into new avenues. Thus, the Polk 4 Shot stuck out. So after having the headset for over two months and using them with multiple games and applications, was my move to another headset brand well placed?

      First off I'll talk about the look and build quality. The 4 Shot looks very sleek. There are three different color schemes (black, green, and blue). I personally thought the solid black headset looked the best but the green and blue headsets don't look bad either. The earpieces themselves have a shiny finish that makes them look very nice, and the overall headset just looks classy and more like a traditional headset as opposed to a large gaming headset. The earpieces swivel around so you can lay the headset down flat if you want to. They can also connect with your tablet or smartphone. The overall build quality is really good and they feel sturdy. The band is made of metal but it is still flexible. The band is also covered with a section of padded "leather" which feels nice. The 4 Shot is without a doubt the most comfortable headset I have owned. I have used these in several three hour or longer gaming sessions and not once did they get uncomfortable.

     Getting the 4 Shot set up was a breeze. All I had to do was plug them into my Xbox One controller, connect my controller to my Xbox One with the provided USB cable, let the controller update do it's thing, and I was good to go. The 4 Shot is priced at $160 which to me is kind of the middle of the road pricing as far as gaming headsets go. It's also nice that the official Microsoft Headset Adapter comes packaged with them. They aren't completely wireless as there is still one single cable that goes from the headset to the controller. While that may bother some it doesn't bother me. One other nice little feature is since the 4 Shot connects to the headset adapter via a 3.5mm headphone jack, I am able to plug them right into the headset port in my PS4 controller and get both game and chat sound and that is just awesome. Something else I love about the 4 Shot is that they are powered from the controller itself, and do not require any batteries. I have not noticed the 4 Shot draining the battery life of my controllers any faster either.

      Now what good is a gaming headset if it doesn't sound good? Thankfully the Polk 4 Shot does not disappoint in this area. It's important to mention that the 4 Shot is not true surround sound. It is a stereo headset, but Polk states they are using their POET (Polk Optimized Electro-acoustic Tuning) technology to create a solid and rich sound. I am in no way an audiophile, but I would agree with Polk because to me they sound fantastic. Playing FPS games you can hear gunfire around you in all directions. While the bass isn't super loud, you can still hear explosions, crashes, and other deeps sounds when they occur. I don't crank headsets all the way so the overall volume is great. I don't even have the volume turned up half way and they are plenty loud for me. I have heard them cranked up all the way and they do get pretty loud. At least for me they do. 

      The big issue that people have experienced is with the mic quality while in a party. The 4 Shot has a built in microphone in the left earpiece that you can click down, and then back up into the headset to hide it when not in use. It's pretty cool, but some people have experience their voices sounding muffled or quiet since there isn't an actual boom mic down by your mouth. Polk issued a statement right after the 4 Shot was released saying it isn't anything wrong with the actual hardware, but it's an issue with the Microsoft headset adapter. This can be proven as true because I tested using the mic in the Upload Studio and on voice messages on my PS4 and my voice came in loud and clear. That being said, I haven't had anyone in game parties say they couldn't hear me. I've even had people say I sounded completely clear. Polk is working with Microsoft on a software update to fix the issue, but they also will send their Chat Pro boom mic to anyone who registers their 4 Shot on their site free of charge. I received mine on April 1 and it was very well packaged and is an actual Polk branded boom mic and is adjustable. I've been using the headset with the new boom mic and while I thought the built in mic sounded fine, the boom mic attachment does make my voice more loud and clear (picture below).

     As of now I don't have any complaints and have been very pleased with the Polk 4 Shot. They sound great, are incredibly comfortable, look sleek, and are sturdily built. The mic issue really hasn't bothered me, but I know some people have and may be turned off by this. However, the free boom mic you get from Polk does work. Again, while I don't have any complaints myself, I feel I need to make note of some possible issues people may have in my final pro/con list.  

Final Verdict: 9/10

Pros:                                          Cons:

- Incredibly comfortable                 - $160 price tag may be too much for some
- Great sound quality                      - Not true 7.1 surround sound
- Solid build and sleek look              - Mic issue may be off putting for some
- Works on both Xbox One and PS4


Written by: Alter Ego 83